Scoop-shovel



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

S. C. KBNAGA.

SCOOP SHOVEL.

No. 583,484. Patented June 1,1897.

' if-m7@ NITED STATES PAT-ENT trice, v

SAMUEL C. KENAGA, OF KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS.

SCOOP-SHOVEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 583,484, dated June 1, 1897.

Application tiled November 18, 1895, Serial No. 569,325. (No model.)

ToaZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL C. KENAGA, of Kankakee, in the county of Kankakee and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Scoop-Shovels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved device for handling loose materials, such as grain, coal, and the like, which may properly be designated a wheeled scoop,7 the device being intended for use by hand-power.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple practical device of the character referred to by means of which materials capable of being shoveled may be scooped up and conveyed from one point to another and dumped rapidly and with the expenditure of a minimum amount of labor.

The invention consists in the matter hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and will be readily understood, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view in side elevation of a device embodying my invention in one practical form. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing one manner of conveniently dumping a load. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2, showing the parts in the position assumed when conveying the load. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view taken on sectional line 5 5 of Fig. 4 and looking downwardly. 4

Referring to said drawings, A designates as a whole a scoop having vertical end walls A A", a substantially flat horizontal bottom A2, and a rear end wallvAS, united with said bottom by means of a rounded heel portion A4, said several parts being herein shown as made of sheet metal and conveniently formed integral of a single sheet bent to proper form. The sides A A of the scoop are of the full width of the rear end wall A3 at their rear ends and taper thence forwardly to a relatively narrow width at the open front end of the scoop, the lower front edge of the scoop being preferably curved and shod with a strap of steel A5, sharpened to a blunt knife-edge at its front edge, as usual in devices of analogous character.

B B designate main supporting-wheels arranged transversely opposite to each other at opposite sides of the scoop, preferably and as herein shown adjacent to the inner wall of the sides A A and at points somewhat in rear of the center of gravity of the scoop when fully loaded, the bottom wall and heel portion of the scoop bein gapertured or slotted to allow the tread portion of the wheel to extendv therethrough and the wheels being housed over by means of castings C C, conformed to the upper periphery of the wheels and provided with marginal flanges c c, through which securing-rivets are extended into the bottom and side walls of the scoop. Said wheels B B are conveniently mounted upon axles formed by bolts b b, extended through said housings C and sides A A' of the scoop. The size of the wheels B B is such as to support the rear portion of the scoop with its bottom some distance above .the working floor, so that the scoop may be raised well clear of the iioor by tilting it backward upon the said supporting-wheels, as hereinafter described, while the front end of the scoop will normally rest either in direct contact with the working floor or in close proximity thereto, so as to scoop up the ma* terial comparatively clean from the floor when the scoop is rolled forward. l Preferably7 although not necessarily, said front end of the` scoop will be supported by small rollers C C, mounted in the bottom of the scoop within suitable housings c c.

D designates a frame rigidly secured to the rear part of the scoop, centrally thereof, being conveniently formed of bar-iron bent into rectangular form, as shown, upon the outer sides d d of which, adjacent to the rear corners thereof, are secured two auxiliary supporting-wheels E E, arranged with their lower portions supported normally several inches above the working oor. The outer ends of the axles of said auxiliary wheels are conveniently supported by means of arms d' d, secured to the outer sides of said rectangular frame D and forming, together with the lat- IOO ter, wheel-forks within which said wheels are mounted.

F designates a handle, herein shown as con- Veniently formed of strap-iron, provided at its lower end with fork-arms f f, pivotally connected with the rear lower portion of the body of the scoop by means of pivot-lugs f f, so as to permit the said handle to oscillate in a vertical plane. The outer end of said handle is provided with a suitable handheld F', conveniently formed by means of divergent arms f2 f2, between the outer ends of which is secured a round gripping-piece f3. I may also, if found convenient or necessary, secure an auxiliary handle F2 so as to extend some distance vertically above the main handle, said auxiliary handle being conveniently secured by means of uprightsf4, secured at their lower ends to the outer ends of the arms f2, and brace-bars f5, extending obliquely downward from said upper handle tothe main handle at a point below the divergent arms of the latter, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. l, the purpose of this auxiliary handle being to permit the operator to lower the handle in the operation of the scoop, as hereinafter decribed, without stooping so much as would otherwise be necessary.

In order that the handle F may beheld rigid with the body of the scoop at dierent degrees of inclination, devices are provided as follows: G designates a segment secured vertically to the rear central part of the rectangular frame D, the outer segmental surface being formed on an arc concentric with the pivotal axis of the said handle F.

The handle F is provided with a member F3, arranged to extend centrally between the fo1kar1nsff, with its lower end adjacent to the segmental surface g of said segment G, said end being preferably provided with guide-arms f6 f, which extend on each side of the segment G and afford additional rigidity in the operation of the device. II designates a springactuated latch havin g the form of a bar Inonnted longitudinally upon the upper side of the member F3 and provided at its lower end with a rectangularshaped engaging portion 7L, adapted to engage a correspondingly-shaped notch or notches g, formed in said segment G. The latch H is mounted to slide endwise in suitable bearings and is normally forced into engagement with the segment by means of a coiled spring It', mounted upon said latch and arranged to act at one end upon an annular shoulder h2 thereon and at its opposite end against one of the guides or bearings h3. In order to retract the latch, so as to permit the handle to be oscillated upon its pivots, a rctracting-lever II is pivotally mounted within the yokeshaped handle F in position to be grasped by the hand which engages said handle, from which lever a connecting rod or link h4 extends to the upper end of the latch H, as indicated clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In order to limit the downward oscillation of the handle F, the segment G is provided at its lower end with a stop g', adapted for engagement with one of the guide-arins f of the handle. y

The foregoing-described parts constitute a complete device which may be operated advantageously, but in order that a somewhat larger load may be carried and the loose material confined within the scoop after it has been loaded and while it is being conveyed from one point to another I provide a swinging gate adapted to close the frontend of the scoop and arranged and constructed as follows: I I indicate arms secured .rigidly to the side walls B' B' of the scoop and arranged to project obliquely upwardly and forwardly therefrom to points vertically above the front edge of the scoop. Between said armsis pivoted a swinging gate J, comprising a front side J', curved at its lower edge to conform approximately to the curvature of the front edge of the scoop and provided with inturned end walls J 2 J 2, which are arranged to fit at their lower rear edges within the side walls of the scoop when the gate is in closed position, as indicated in Fig. 4. Said gate is conveniently formed of sheet metal and made rigid by means of a rod j, attached to the upper edge thereof, and which rod is extended through the supporting-arms I to form the pivotal bearings of the gate.

In order to operate the gate J, the latter is provided cent-rally on its inner side with an eye-lugj, with which is connected an operating-rod K, which extends rearwardly above the Lipper rear margin of the body of the scoop and to a position convenient of access by the operator, at which pointit is provided with a suitable handhold 7c. Inorder to guide said rod and at the same time to provide mea-ns whereby the gate may be locked in closed position, a plate L is mounted to extend vertically above the back wall of the scoop, provided with a slot Z, through which said rod K is arranged to extend, and at a point arranged to register with the location of said plate when the gate is in closed position the rod K is provided with an inverted U -shaped bend, forming a notch adapted to engage the lower end of said ver tical slot.

Means for automatically opening the gate when the scoop is dumped and for holding it locked in closed position are provided as follows: M designates an arm rigidly secured to the central Lipper portion of said gate and arranged to project upwardly therefrom, while M designates a second arm or standard rigidly mounted upon the lower part of the handle F and arranged to project upwardly substantially at right angles thereto. M2 M3 designate the front and rear members, respectively, of a toggle arranged to extend between and connect said arms M M. The height of the arms M M and the length of the toggle-links M2 M3 are such that when IIO the gate is in closed position, as indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and the handle F in its uppermost position with the latch thereon in engagement with the upper notch of the segment G, said toggle members will extend in alinement with each other, in which position they will be held by means of an overlying shoulder m, formed on one of said members adjacent to the joint thereof, and which by engagement with the other member serve to prevent the toggle from iiexin g downwardly substantially beyond a straight line. It will be obvious that when the parts are in this position the gate will be prevented from swinging outwardly under the weight of the' load, inasmuch as any tendency of the gate to oscillate upon its pivots will be resisted by the toggle, which will have no tendency to flex under the thrust brought thereon, since such thrust will act against a dead-center. It will be obvious that when thus connected if the handle be released and lowered the toggle connection will act to oscillate the gate upon its pivots to open the same, and in order that said toggle may be flexed upwardly slightly when the handle has reached its lowermost position, as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, so that the handle may thereafter be returned to its uppermost position without returning the gate to its closed position, the plate L, which serves as a guide for the actuating -rod K, is made of such -height as to contact with the central lower side of said toggle shortly before the handle has reached its lowermost position and to thereafter flex the toggle upwardly as the handleis depressed.

The operation of the device may be briefly described as follows: The parts being in the position shown in Fig. l, the operator pushes or rolls the scoop forward into the grain or other material until the scoop is nearly filled or until the scoop has been forced into the grain as far as it can be wit-hout severe exertion, after which the operator depresses the handle, thereby tilting upward the forward end of the scoop and changing the weight from the main wheels to t-he auxiliary wheels E. This enables the operator to force the scoop farther into the material and at the same time facilitates the filling of the rear end of the receptacle. W'hile in this position, the operator lifts the actuating-rod K, so as to release the same from its engagement with the slotted plate and thereafter pulls the gate into closed position. As the gate swings downwardly into its closed position the toggle-links straighten, and finally, as the gate reaches the closed position, assume a position in alinement with each other, (shown in Fig. 4,) thereby locking the gate from opening. The scoop is now wheeled to any desired point where it is wished to dump the load. Preferably the bin orreceptacle Within which the material is to be stored will be provided with an inclined approach leading upward to its upper edge, up which the scoop may be wheeled into a position overhanging the bin, as shown clearly in Fig. 8. Having arrived at this position, the operator simply withdraws the latch which holds the handle rigid with the scoop, whereupon the greater weight of the front end of the load tilts the scoop downward into the position shown in Fig. 2. As the scoop tilts downwardly, the handle, being held from movement by the operator, causes the toggle connection to automatically open the gate to permit the grain to escape, the actuating-rod K being at the same time drawn forward until it automatically drops into locked engagement with the plate L. The operator now draws the scoop back from above the bin, and as the scoop returns tothe horizontal position the segment will be carried downwardly, therebyflexing the toggle into the position shown in Fig. l, the locking-latch finally engaging the upper notch of the segment automatically and again locking the handle rigid with the scoop.

While I have herein shown what I deem to be the most practical embodiment of my invention now known to me, yet it will be obvious that various modifications may be made in the details of the construction without departing from the spirit of the invention and without involving more than ordinary mechanical skill. I do not therefore wish to be limited to the precise details herein shown. Inasm uch, however, as the various details of construction shown herein are extremely simple and practical they are also made the subject of specific claims in addition to the claims covering the invention broadly.

I claim as my inventionl. A shovelin g device for manual use, comprising a scoop having a substantially flat bottom and open at its front end, laterally opposite supporting-wheels arranged at points intermediate the length of the body of the scoop and adapted to support the rear end thereof at a distance from the working floor, a handle pivotally connected with the rear part of the scoop, and a locking device holding said handle rigid with said body, substantially as set forth.

2. A shoveling device for manual use comprising a scoop having a substantially fiat bottom and open at its front end, laterallysupporting wheels arranged to support the scoop above the working door, a handle pivoted to the rear end of the scoop-body, a gate pivotally secured between arms projecting from the scoop and adapted to close the front end thereof, and actuating connections between said handle and said gate consisting of an arm projecting from the handle, an arm projecting from the gate, and toggle connections between said arms, substantially as described.

3. A shoveling device for manual use comprising a scoop having a substantially fiat IOO bottom and open at its front end, laterallysupporting wheels arranged to support the scoop above the working door, a handle pivoted to the rear end of the seoop-body, means for locking said handle rigidly to said scoopbody, a gate pivotally secured between arms projecting from the forward end of the scoop and adapted to close the front end thereof, and actuating connections between said handle and said gate consisting of an arm projecting upwardly from the handle, an arm rigidly connected with the gate and projecting upwardly therefrom, and toggle connections between said arms, substantially as described.

4c. A shoveling device for manual use comprising a scoop having an open front end and adapted to scoop material from a Working floor, laterally opposite supporting-wheels arranged to support the scoop above said working floor, a handle pivoted to the rear end of said 'scoop-body, a gate pivotally secured between arms projecting from theV scoop and adapted to close the open end thereof, actuating connections between said handle and gate comprising an arm projecting from the handle, an arm projecting from the gate, and toggle connections between said arms, and an actuating-rod connected with the gate and extending rearwardly therefrom within reach of the operator, substantially as described.

5. A shoveling device comprising a wheeled scoop having an open front end adapted to scoop loose material from a working lloor, a handle pivotally attached to the scoop, a swinging gate pivotally connected with the front end of said scoop, toggle connections connecting said handle with the swinging gate, a segment over which said handle oscillates and locking means for securing the handle to the segment, substantially as set forth.

6. A shoveling device for manual use, comprising a wheeled scoop having an open front end adapted to scoop loose material from a working iioor, a handle pivotally attached to the rear part of said scoop, a rigid arm extending upwardly from said handle, a swinging gate pivotally supported at the front end of the scoop, a rigid arm projecting from said swinging gate, toggle-links connecting said arms, a segment over which the handle oscillates, a latch carried by the handle adapted to engage said segment, substantially as set forth.

7. A shoveling device for manual use comprising a wheeled scoop having a body open at its front end, a handle arranged at the rear of the scoop-body, a swinging gate pivotally supported at the front end of the scoop, and

means for operating said swinging gate, comprising an actuating-rod connected with the gate and extending rearwardly to a point within reach of the operator, and means for locking said actuating-rod to the body of the scoop so as to hold the gate in open position, substantially as set forth.

8. A shoveling device for manual use com- 'when the gate is swung to an open position, a

segment over which the handle of the scoop oscillates, and a latch carried by the handle adapted to engage said segment, substantially as set forth.

9. A shoveling device for manual use comprising a wheeled scoop having a body open as its front end, a handle pivotally attached to the rear part of said scoop, a rigid arm extending upwardly from said handle, a swinging gate pivotally supported at the front end of the scoop, a rigid arm projected from said swinging gate, toggle-links connecting said arms, a shoulder upon one of said toggle-links arranged to act upon the other link to prevent the toggle from iiexing in one direction beyond a position in alinement with each other, a segment over which the handle oseillates, a latch carried by the handle adapted to engage said segment, and a part upon the scoop adapted to engage the toggle to Hex the same when the handle is oscillated in one direction, substantially as set forth.

l0. The combination with a shoveling device, comprising a scoop provided with laterally opposite supporting-wheels and a main handle attached at the rear thereof, of an auxiliary handle connected with and extending above said main handle, substantially as set forth.

l1. A shoveling device for manual use, comprising a scoop, transversely opposite supporting-wheels arranged to support the rear part of the scoop at a distance from the working iioor, a handle arranged to extend at the rear of the scoop whereby the scoop may be oscillated upon the axles of said supporting-wheels and an auxiliary wheel or roller arranged in rear of the main supporting-wheels, supported normally at a distance above the Workin g iioor, and adapted to support the scoop when the latter is tilted back, substantially as set forth.

l2. A shoveling device for manual use, comprising a scoop, transversely opposite supporting-wheels arranged to support the rear part of the scoop at a distance from the working ioor, a handle arranged to extend at the rear of the scoop whereby the scoop may be oscillated upon the axles of said supporting-wheels and a pair of transversely opposite auxiliary wheels or rollers arranged in IOO IIO

rear of the main supporting-Wheels, snpported normally at a distance above the Working door, and adapted to support the scoop When the latter is tilted back, substantially as set forth.

13. A shoveling device for manual use, comprising a scoop, transversely opposite supporting-Wheels arranged to support the scoop at points intermediate of its length, a handle pivotally attached at the rear of the scoop, means for looking said handle rigid with the scoop-body, and a pair of transversely opposite auxiliary supporting-Wheels arranged in rear of the main Wheels adapted to support the seoop When the latter is oseillated back upon the main Wheels, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses, this 14th day of November, A. D. 1895.

SAMUEL C. KENAGA.

Witnesses:

.FRANK MCGREW,

W. F. KENAGA. 

